Tomorrow may be the day of the Aintree Grand National, however today at the Battle of Malta it is the mixed game players’ turn to saddle their mounts and ride for glory. The Grand National is a race of attrition, but there are guaranteed to be more fallers here at Casino Malta, once the pace picks up and the fences (blinds and antes) get bigger.

Unlike in actual equestrian races, today’s runners and riders failed to make an orderly line at the start, but they are allowed to join the race after the start, for the first eight levels in fact. The race started with just one table of players but it has now grown to two, with 13 players already jockeying for position in the chip chart.

Eirik Presstun, Michael Cauchi and Antoine Degiorgio are amongst those who are already out on the course.

More news from the paddock later in the day, when we’ll report on who might be heading for the winners circle and who’s already en route to the butcher shop (yes, we eat horse meat here in Malta).

Antoine Degiorgio